History experts, I need your help: is this Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood’s watch? 18 March, 2012
Posted by Molly Joyful in Art, Cuthbert Collingwood, Family, General, Royal Navy.Tags: collingwood, Cuthbert Collingwood, Royal Navy, trafalgar
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Edited on 22th March, new pictures and information added!
Dear Collingwoodites, here’s a puzzle for you to solve!
Bingham Cuthbert (!) Charles Schreiber gave the following watch to his granddaughter Virginia on her 18th birthday. The watch, so the family story goes, was presented to Old Cuddy by the British Government after the Battle of Trafalgar. Mr. Schreiber was estranged from his father at a young age and grew up in Canada.
Needless to say, this is a very exciting find if the watch can really be tracked down to Collingwood. And that’s what I need your help for, dear history buffs and experts! I can’t remember Collingwood mentioning a watch in his journal or letters, which doesn’t have to mean that he didn’t get one. Let’s look at the note coming with the watch first.
“Admiral Collingwood’s watch a gift from the British government after the Battle of Trafalgar 1796″
That’s confusing, as the battle obviously took place in 1805. It’s not very likely it was a different battle, either – the Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a year later. However, that year might not be about the battle, but about the year the watch was manufactured:
“A.R. Keating 1796-1815 Production Strand- Serial #5834″
My knowledge about watches is very, very limited. So I hope there will be readers who can help me out with the following questions, and maybe tell Virginia more about her watch:
- Can anybody tell me something about the maker of the watch?
- Was this really Collingwood’s watch?
- Did he mention it anywhere in his journals or letters?
- Do you know how it came into the possession of Mr. Schreiber?
Edited on 22th March: new information and pictures!
Virginia’s grandfather was born in Parry Sound,Ontario, Canada, on 8/15/1906. Virginia was born in the mid-sixties.
Virginia has also sent additional pictures:
Thanks so much for your help. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood: Wisdom will never go out of Fashion 7 March, 2012
Posted by Molly Joyful in Books, Cuthbert Collingwood, Family, Letters, Quotes, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want, Trivia, Vices and Virtues.Tags: advice, age of sail, Art, Books, collingwood, Cuthbert Collingwood, Family, Letters, personal, Quotes, Royal Navy, st. paul's cathedral, things you don't need but probably want, Vices and Virtues
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Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood, died on 7th March, 1810 at the age of 61. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit St. Paul’s Cathedral today as I’ve just started a new job, but be assured that “Old Cuddy” wasn’t deprieved of his annual gift of flowers. A very lovely flowerbox with red roses and berries, not unlike the one from last year, was placed on his tomb.
So rather than paying my respects in person, I’ll do so in writing. I won’t talk about naval battle strategies or politics, though. When asked why I took such an interest in some old admiral who died a gazillion of years ago, I usually say: “People with common sense never go out of fashion.” Collingwood was born in 1748, but had a more modern approach to many things and better understanding of human nature than a good number of people nowadays.
On 17 April, 1809, Collingwood wrote a letter to his daughters while aboard his ship, the Ville de Paris, anchored off Minorca. I dare say that we’d all live in a much better world if some of the advice he gave his girls was headed today. Actually, I petition for his pieces of advice to be printed on a 4x20ft banner and put up in the Houses of Parliament. I suggest neon pink vinyl, so that really nobody can miss it.
The education of a lady, and indeed of a gentleman too, may be divided into three parts; all of great importance to their happiness, but in different degrees.
The first part ist the cultivation of the mind, that they may have a knowledge of right and wrong, and acquire a habit of doing acts of virtue and honour. By reading history, you will perceive the high estimation in wihch the memories of good and virtuous people are held; the contempt and disgust which are affixed to the base, whatever may have been their rank in life.
The second part of education is to acquire a competent knowledge how to manage your affairs, whatever they may happen to be; to know how to direct the economy of your house; and to keep exact accounts of every thing which concerns you. Whoever cannot do this must be dependent on somebody else, and those who are dependent on another cannot be perfectly at their ease. (…)
The third part is, perhaps, no less in value than the others. It is how to practise those manners and that address which will recommend you to the respect of strangers. Boldness and forwardness are exceedingly disgusting, and such people are generally more disliked the more they are known; but, at the same time, shyness and bashfulness, and the shrinking from conversation with those with whom you ought to associate, are repulsive and unbecoming.
This quote was taken from the excellent book “The Five Hundred Best English Letters”, selected and edited by The First Earl of Birkenhead, first published in 1931. I’d like to thank Esteven for the many hours of enjoyment I spent reading it.
Event: Record office lecture on Collingwood by Dr. Tony Barrow 8 April, 2011
Posted by Molly Joyful in Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Royal Navy, Talks.Tags: age of sail, collingwood, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Royal Navy, Talks, Tony Barrow
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On Friday, April 15 at 7.30pm, Dr. Tony Barrow will hold a lecture on
“Collingwood’s Northumbrians”
in the Parish Centre of Berwick.
Dr. Barrow will speak on the men from Tyneside and Northumberland who had social and family connections with Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood and how the latter supported them (or otherwise) in their naval careers.
Great subject, everyone is welcome, admission is free and refreshments are available – so what are you waiting for?
Not-so-old Cuddy
( Source )
Letter by Collingwood up for auction: “Etc. etc. etc., Collingwood” 16 October, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Books, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Lady Sarah, Letters, Quotes, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want, Trivia, Vices and Virtues.Tags: age of sail, auction, Books, collingwood, collingwood 2010, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Lady Sarah, Letters, Nelson, personal, Quotes, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want, trafalgar, Vices and Virtues
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If you should have a spare £ 1’000.00 in your piggy bank (plus £ 2.20 for postage), you have the chance to become the owner of a letter Cuthbert Collingwood sent to Captain Hoste in HMS Amphion “by Hind”, reporting the presence of a French frigate at Palma, and ordering him to attack if the enemy ship “is found to be in a situation where she is assailable”. The letter was written “off Toulon, 4 May 1808″.
CLICK HERE TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE AUCTION
Letter from Vice Admiral Lord Collingwood to Captain William Hoste, 1808
As most of us very likely don’t have that amount of money to spend on letters, I recommend you purchase
THE OFFICIAL FESTIVAL BROCHURE
instead. It contains articles, never-before seen pictures and commentaries.
The price is £5.00 + £0.60 p&p in the UK, £5.00 + £2.00 p&p in the rest of Europe and £5.00 + £3.35 p&p if ordered from elsewhere in the world. Credit card orders may be placed by telephone 0191 – 2650040 (from overseas +44 191 2650040) or send an email directly to the publisher, Powdene Publicity, on info @ powdene.com – thanks!
This is a must-have item for all Collingwoodites!
From the written word to music: has anybody attended the event with The New Scorpion Band in Collingwood’s honour on the 9th October? I haven’t found any reviews so far; Ylla was there and commented on it, but if anybody else should have been there, please yell and let us know what it was like.
UPCOMING EVENTS
21st October is coming closer, and the good people of North Tyneside Council have organised
Toast the Admiral!
At 1200 midday on 21st October 1805, the opening salvo was fired in the Battle of Trafalgar as Vice-Admiral Collingwood’s Royal Sovereign came within range of the French ship Fougeaux. At 12.00 midday on this year’s Trafalgar Day, we will “raise a glass” to Collingwood’s memory at the monument in Tynemouth. This forms the last public event of the Collingwood 2010 Festival and everyone who is a follower of Collingwood and the Festival is welcome to attend.
Proceedings will start at 11.30am and the toast will be at 12.00 noon.
For more information, please consult the Official Collingwood 2010 Website.
“This forms the last public event of the 2010 Festival” – what about the future?
My health has unfortunately forced me these last months to cut back drastically on my time spent in front of a computer, TV set or anything else that’s flickering and blinking. So, until very recently, I’ve planned to stop updating this blog on Trafalgar Day and leave it up as a part of the 2010 celebrations; an archive, so to speak.
And then I thought: there are 8089230582395238 blogs in honour of Lady Gaga, but only one exclusively dedicated to Old Cuddy (to my knowledge, maybe there are 8709089080 others out there I haven’t found yet), get over yourself, woman!
So I’m very happy to tell you that not only “Old Cuddy” will stay, it will also be updated whenever I come across something interesting and Collingwood-related.
Furthermore, I can confirm that laying flowers in front of Lord Collingwood’s grave at St. Paul’s Cathedral will become a yearly event.
Our dear regular reader ShipRat has posted a lovely excerpt recently from the correspondence between Collingwood and his wife, which I just have to share:
Queen, off Carthagena, Dec. 20, 1805.
“… The editors of the Naval Chronicle have written to me for the history of my life and progress, for which they are pleased to say the world is very impatient. Now this rather embarrasses me, for I never could bear the trumpeter of his own praise. So, to get rid of it as well as I can, I have employed _____ to write a history for me. For my birth and parentage he has selected two or three chapters of Bamfylde Moore Carew*: for my service in the ‘West Indies and on the Spanish main, he has good assistance in the History of the Buccaneers; and for my shipwreck he has copied a great deal out of Robinson Crusoe: all which, with a few anecdotes from the Lives of the Admirals, a little distorted, will make, I am inclined to think, a very respectable piece of biography.”
*i.e., “The Life and Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, the noted Devonshire stroller and dogstealer“ (1745) a.k.a. “The Accomplished Vagabond”
He didn’t like to trumpet his own praise, but I think he can live with one wee blog. ;-)
Event: Collingwood Workshop with Max Adams, Tony Barrow and John Sadler 20 April, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Books, Bounce, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, General, Letters, Royal Navy, Talks.Tags: Books, Bounce, collingwood, collingwood 2010, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, John Sadler, Letters, max adams, newcastle, personal, Royal Navy, Talks, Tony Barrow, trafalgar, tyneside, Vices and Virtues
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I haven’t decided yet what to do on 1st May: wearing red and marching on the street, or wearing white and dancing around the May Pole (knowing myself, I’ll probably end up sitting under a tree, reading a book). But there’s a third option this year:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD
(Please scroll down the page for schedule and more information)
Saturday, 1st May, and Sunday, 2nd May, 2010, at the Newcastle Arts Centre and the Newcastle upon Tyne Trinity House.
A two-day workshop at the North-East Centre for Lifelong Learning, tutored by acknowledged experts Max Adams, Tony Barrow and John Sadler, celebrating the bicentenary of Collingwood’s death on March 7th 1810
The workshop costs £ 55.00 (£ 35.00 if you’re a NECLL member), which includes lunch and refreshments. I dare say this will be money well spent; several interesting talks, a look at Admiral Collingwood’s letters, muster books and a rare look around Trinity House. Plus “re-enactments of actions” (tempting as it may be: please stay away from the cannons and don’t blow anything up!)
This exciting event is brought to you by the Collingwood 2010 Festival.
Don’t forget the auction! Collingwood’s washstand has to go! 23 March, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Art, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, General, Nelson, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want.Tags: auction, collingwood, Cuthbert Collingwood, emma lady hamilton, Events, Family, memorabilia, Nelson, personal, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want, trafalgar
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And for at least £ 36’000 – not a penny less! (The experts expect it to fetch £ 6’000 – £ 8’000, though…)
THE ‘NELSON TOUCH’ ARRIVES AT BONHAMS MARINE SALE
A remarkable variety of Nelson-related memorabilia, including a rare George III mourning ring, a collection of Baltic service dinner plates, and a silver urn given by Lady Emma Hamilton to her chemist, is being sold as part of The Marine Sale at Bonhams on 24th March 2010.
Of main interest to us here is of course
You can see the complete catalogue for the auction here. And the catalogue is pretty much the only item I could afford!
Please also see the previous post on this auction.
Collingwood 2010 Event: “Collingwood and Nelson: a Unique Friendship” 16 March, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Books, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Letters, Nelson, Royal Navy, Talks.Tags: age of sail, Books, collingwood, collingwood 2010, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, gateshead, max adams, Nelson, newcastle, Royal Navy, Talks
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Talk alert!
“COLLINGWOOD AND NELSON: A UNIQUE FRIENDSHIP”
An illustrated talk by Max Adams
Monday, 22nd March – the ‘Lit and Phil’, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SE, 6pm
Max Adams is the author of “Admiral Collingwood: Nelson’s Own Hero”. His biography of Old Cuddy is not the first or only one ever written, but it’s the one I’d recommend to those who sit in front of the screen and wonder who the heck we’re all talking about here.
Of course there is a lot of information on Collingwood’s achievements in the Battle of Trafalgar and his friendship with Horatio Nelson, but first and foremost, it’s not a book on Collingwood the admiral, but on Cuthbert Collingwood the man. Max Adams did a brilliant job – he had me sort of sobbing by the end of chapter one, and that, dear friends, takes a lot.
There’s also a TV documentary on Collingwood presented by Max Adams, dating back to 2005. Like most interesting documentaries, it’s not available on DVD. If you should get the chance to catch it somewhere on TV, please do so. It’s a very loving tribute to Collingwood.
"And now for something completely different..."
Admiral Lord Collingwood 2010: Link Collection of Celebrations, Part 3 16 March, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, General, Online articles, Royal Navy.Tags: collingwood, collingwood 2010, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, monument, morpeth, Online articles, Royal Navy
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Before we come to further online reports of the Collingwood 2010 Memorial Weekend, here’s a stunning picture of the (in)famous smoke ring during the Tynemouth salute; courtesy Captain Stephen Healy:
If that’s not the perfect 10 of smoke rings everywhere, then I don’t know what is!
COLLINGWOOD 2010 – MEMORIAL CEREMONY IN TYNEMOUTH
Report and pictures by Jen
Although all the official part was impressive, I think one of my favourite things was standing there on the monument afterwards and hearing a man beside me telling the lady he was with about how…
JournalLive: NORTH EAST PAYS TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL LORD COLLINGWOOD
He was described yesterday as one of Newcastle’s greatest sons, a Northumbrian heart of oak, a great Englishman and a saviour of the nation.
COLLINGWOOD’S MONUMENT, TYNEMOUTH
Short report and pictures by Kathy
CELEBRATIONS – COLLINGWOOD MONUMENT AT TYNEMOUTH
Great picture taken by Allan
Not reports, yet still interesting:
Morpeth Herald: COLLINGWOOD – THE MAN WHO SAVED THE NATION
Author Andrew Griffin has welcomed the Collingwood Festival after writing a biography on the hero.
Morpeth Herald: HOTEL’S ADDING AN EXTRA TOUCH OF CLASS
You’ll be pleased to hear there’ll be a “Collingwood Bar” very soon!
It will have a seating and standing capacity of 200 and is scheduled to open on April 7, when a member of the Collingwood family will cut the ribbon, followed by an official opening ceremony on April 29.
Admiral Lord Collingwood 2010: Link Collection of Celebrations, Part 1 9 March, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, General, Online articles, Royal Navy.Tags: collingwood, collingwood 2010, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, monument, Online articles, personal, Royal Navy, tyneside
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Just returned home and try to make my way through a shipload of mails. For now, here’s the first part with links to reports about the Collingwood 2010 celebrations. More will follow.
First stop for all things “Collingwood 2010″ is the official website, where you’ll find some great reports and pictures:
Collingwood 2010 Official Website: Morpeth opens the show …
Check the website regularly for news!
BBC News: Trafalgar cannons fired to mark 200th anniversary
Cannons which last saw action at the Battle of Trafalgar are fired on Tyneside to mark the 200th anniversary of Admiral Lord Collingwood’s death.
BBC Gallery: Admiral Lord Collingwood celebrations
The Northern Echo: Admiral Lord Collingwood celebrated on 200th anniversary of his death
Later, at the Tynemouth Collingwood Monument, the cannons from the Admiral’s Trafalgar flagship, Royal Sovereign, were “fired” – using pyrotechnics – to signal the start of a remembrance service. The cannons were last fired in battle on board Collingwood’s vessel Royal Sovereign as it led British ships in 1805.
Chronicle Live: Hero Admiral Lord Collingwood honoured
Captain Stephen Healy, chairman of the Collingwood 2010 Festival Committee, said: “The crowds were fantastic and the weather could not have been better. I think Admiral Lord Collingwood would have been quietly embarrassed by all the fuss we have made of him.”
JournalLive: North East pays tribute to Admiral Lord Collingwood
He was described yesterday as one of Newcastle’s greatest sons, a Northumbrian heart of oak, a great Englishman and a saviour of the nation.
JournalLive: Gallery – Lord Collingwood Anniversary
Thanks a lot to Jen for providing most of these links.
YOUTUBE
Luckily for those of us who couldn’t attend the celebrations ourselves, the ever-reliable public generously shared videos on youtube. Here’s one of the parade; just click the picture to watch it:
There’s more:
Gun salute from HMS Collingwood to Collingwood Monument, Tynemouth
Also, flowers have been laid at Admiral Lord Collingwood’s tomb in St. Paul’s; picture will follow soon.
And last but not least:
Admiral Lord Collingwood is the “Treasure of the Month” of the University of Newcastle.
Ladies and gentlemen, Collingwood’s washstand has landed! 26 February, 2010
Posted by Molly Joyful in Art, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, Nelson, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want.Tags: auction, collingwood, Cuthbert Collingwood, Events, Family, memorabilia, personal, Royal Navy, things you don't need but probably want
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As announced before, Bonhams is holding a Marine Sale on 24th March, 2010. Up for auction are many interesting items (this is particularly amazing), but of course, of main interest to us is
With the owner’s family since September 1892, acquired from a dealer following a sale at Deal, in Kent of the effects of the late Vice Admiral Collingwood, by the family of the late Captain Anthony Cuthbert Collingwood RN (originally Denny), Vice Admiral Collingwood’s grandson.
You’ll find a detailed description plus pictures on Bonhams’ website. Just click the amazing flying washstand above.
The estimate for this formidable piece of furniture is £ 6,000 to £8,000. I’ll be grumpy as hell if it shouldn’t fetch more than Nelson’s pot de chambre. I wish I was rich, alas I’m not, so I can only hope this piece will find a good home – that mirror’s seen Collingwood’s face many times. A fascinating thought, isn’t it?
